Foldable draperies and methods of manufacture



E. C. SWEEM April 1, 1958 FOLDABLE DRAPERIES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTUREFiled Aug. 2, 1954 Fig.l

INVENTOR E.C. Sweem- 7 TTOBN E Y6 Unite FOLDABLE DRAPERES AND METHODS OFMANUFACTURE This invention relates to improvements in folding draperies,blinds, doors, partitions and the like, and their method of manufacture,and it has reference more particularly to such articles that arecomprised of very thin strips or slats of selected wood or woods, joinededge to edge by flexible means that permits the strips or slats to befolded together or opened apart for the purpose of contracting orextending the article in width or length.

More specifically stated, the present invention relates to the making ofpliable folding draperies, blinds, doors, partitions, screens and thelike, from thin strips of decorative wood that are overlaid with andhingedly joined edge to edge by transparent, plastic sheets that sealand protect the wood; enhance its decorative effects; and add theretothe required strength and give the hinging action necessary for foldingthe strips flatly together and the extending of the article to fullwidth or length when such is desired.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide pliable,flexible, extendable and collapsible articles of those kinds previouslynamed, made of thin strips or slats of decorative wood veneer such aswalnut, oak, birch, redwood, mahogany and various others; these stripsof wood, as assembled to form the designated article, being overlaid onboth sides and joined edge to edge with thin, transparent sheets ofplastic that are bonded thereto under the action of heat and pressure,thus to strengthen, protect and preserve the wood without impairingflexibility, and to provide the hinge-like joints between strips thatpermit them to be folded flatly together, and opened apart.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a method ofmanufacturing articles of this character that is practical andeconomical; whereby the natural decorative characteristics or featuresof the selected woods are preserved and enhanced; that insures long lifeto the article and provides the desired and necessary hinge connectionbetween adjacent strips that makes possible the folding and unfoldingaction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method ofmanufacture that permits use, in articles of this character, ofexceptionally thin strips of wood without any danger of their checkingor splitting; furthermore, a method of construction that results inarticles that are light in weight and of unusual strength, with greatflexibility, durability and utility.

Yet another object of the present invention is to so form the edges ofthe veneer strips that they will have no tendency to cut through theoverlying plastic sheets under the action of bonding pressure and heatin the press.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the presentinvention, I have provided the improved details of construction, thepreferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein-- Fig. 1 is an elevation of an article such as a foldingdrapery, or door that is made in accordance with the States Patentpresent method and embodies the novel features of the present inventiontherein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of adjacent veneer strips,particularly showing the plastic sheets that overlie and are bonded totheir opposite surfaces and which provide the hinge-like connectionsbetween strips that gives the article its foldability.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the pliable jointsbetween wooden strips.

The various articles of manufacture, such as draperies, doors, blinds,partitions, and the like to which this invention relates, can be made invarious sizes and can be designed as required for various uses. The thinwooden strips of veneer used in their manufacture may be cut to variouswidths to suit desires or uses and to various thickness, depending onthe kind of Wood and the uses to which the article is to be put. Sucharticles may be equipped as may be required with various suspending orattaching means, referred to as fixtures or hardware, for their supportand operation. However, since these parts and their mode of applicationand use forms no part of the present invention, they have not beenherein shown or described.

The present drawings are intended to be representative or typical of thevarious articles embodied by the invention, and while in Fig. 1 thestrips of wood veneer, which I may hereafter refer to as strips, areshown to be vertically disposed, it is to be understood that for somearticles they may be horizontally, or diagonally disposed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

While it is not intended to limit the invention to use of any particularmaterial for the making of the strips, it is preferred that they be madeof wood veneer and preferably hard wood cut in a manner to emphasize thegrain of the wood and to make it most attractive. It has been found thatsuch woods as Philippine mahogany, redwood, walnut, oak and birch arequite desirable and useable for this purpose in consideration of theheat and pressure treatment to which it is subjected.

The strips, for various articles now anticipated vary in width from 1"to 8", and in thickness from .001" to .016, depending on uses, desires,and kind of wood employed. Pliability or flexibility is to be acharacteristic of the product and therefore the thinner the strips, themore will be the flexibility. The plastic sheets employed for thesurfacing and joining of the slats preferably are a clear, pliablepolyvinyl resin, from .006 to .008 in thickness. While this particularplastic does not provide as hard a surface as some other plastics, itsuse is more desirable because of its pliability and lack of brittlenessafter processing.

Regardless of the sizes or uses of the articles to be made according tothis invention, all are of substantially the same construction andemploy the same method of manufacture, therefore, the present drawingapplies equally to all. Referring now more in detail to the drawings-The strips of wood veneer, referred to as the strips, are hereindesignated by numeral 10. It is generally the case, but not a necessaryrequirement, that all strips be of the same Width, and length. It ispractically an essential requirement, however, that all be of the samethickness in order to meet proper pressing conditions, as later will beexplained.

The preparation of the strips should be carried on in dust free andgrease free areas if possible. The veneer sheets from which the stripsare made should be sanded to exact evenness and then secured in a powerhead and gang sawed as a practical method of eliminating untrue edgesand variations in widths of strips. The veneer also should be kept dryand maintained at a moisture content of about 3%. To prevent anypossible cutting of the plastic sheets by the strips, all the rightangle edges of all strips should be beveled ofi at a 45 angle as hasbeen shown at 12 in Fig. 3.

The plastic surfacing sheets employed are designated by numerals 1313.Preferably these are a thermoplastic known by the trade name Resproid, 8gauge and clear.

To make up an article of the present character, the strips 10 of veneerof width and thickness desired, and coated with a thermo-setting gluewhich is like or of the character of that later disclosed, are arrangededge to edge between the sheets of plastic 1313 in proper spacing ofabout as shown in Fig. 3. The pliable hinge-like connection betweenadjacent strips is designated at and it is formed by'the joined portionsof the plastic sheets between the strips. The sheets should extendbeyond the ends and edges of the assembled slats. The assembled slatsand plastic sheets, disposed between suitable caul plates of stainlesssteel are then placed between the platens of a hot press.

With the article thus properly in the press, the hot platens are closedat a pressure of about 50 lbs. per

square inch and pressure and heat maintained until temperature in thecore reaches about 285 F.; this requiring about 10 minutes. The platenpressure is then increased to about 200 lbs. per square inch but theheat is cut off allowing the product to be baked under pressure to bondthe plastic to the wood and cure it. After the temperature has graduallylowered to below 100 F. the press is opened, the article removed andallowed to cool gradually between the cauls.

The pressing pressures and temperatures can be varied very little, in asmuch as the temperature of 285 F. to 300 F. is the maximum that theplastic sheets will stand without burning. Even at these temperaturesthe material starts discoloring after about 2 minutes time. Thepressures are figured to a point of preciseness and judged according tothe density of the woods being used -each wood having a difierentyielding point-and it is from the yielding point on, that the pressureis increased to compress the wood and the plastic to a degree of .004inch less than the starting thickness.

Under this pressing operation, the plastic sheets are bonded to the woodand between the wood strips they unite with each other as seen in Fig.3. This connection between strips is flexible, strong and durable andpermits the desired passage of light therethrough which is desidablewhen the article is used as a shade or drapery for a window.

It is not desired to limit the article to any specific details ofconstruction other than broadly disclosed in the foregoing description,nor to confine it to any particular materials so long as they may beconsidered equivalent to those mentioned. The article has various usesand applications.

In order to insure adherence of the plastic surfacing sheets to the woodstrips, the strips are given a thin coat of adhesive for example, onemade in accordance with the formula below given:

Victor 8S stabilizer .3

The mixing procedure is to mix by stirring rapidly the vinylite resininto of the methyl ethyl ketone. Allow it to stand with occasionalstirring until it clear and is free of lumps.

Place the Victor 85 stabilizer into the 10% balance of the ketone anddisperse thoroughly with a high speed blender. Cool to 32 F.

Cool the propylene oxide to 32 F. and add it to the chilled mixtureabove, then stir the mixture to the first mentioned mixture.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The method of manufacturing foldable draperies comprising assemblinga succession of thin, flexible strips of wood veneer of uniformthickness, disposed edge to edge, flatly and in slightly spacedrelationship, between two thin transparent sheets of thermo-plasticmaterial, subjecting the'assembled 'sheets and strips to heat andpressure between the platens of a press at a starting temperature ofapproximately 300 F., and the platen pressure being applied initially at50 pounds per square inch and maintained until the temperature in thewood strips has reached approximately 285 F., then being increased toapproximately 200 per square inch and while the platen heat isdiscontinued, thus causing a gradual lowering of heat therein, removingthe pressed article from between the platens when the temperaturetherein has lowered to approximately F., and causing the article to coolgradually under atmospheric condition.

2. The method of manufacturing foldable draperies comprising assemblinga succession of thin strips of wood veneer of uniform thickness disposededge to edge and in slightly spaced relationship, and of substantially3% moisture content, flatly between surfacing sheets of thinthermo-plastic material, placing the assembled strips and sheets betweencaul plates and subjecting them to heat and pressure between the heatedplatens of a press; said platens being initially maintained atsubstantially 285 to 300 F., and closed against the sheets atapproximately 50 pounds per square inch, said pressure being retaineduntil the core of the pressed materials is about 285 F., thendiscontinuing heat in the platen while continually increasing thepressure to 200 pounds per square inch and retaining it until theplatens have cooled to about 100 F., then removing the pressure from thepressed materials in the press and while still held between caul platesgradually cooling the material to atmospheric temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,126,711 Atwood Aug. 16, 1938 2,126,833 Steinberger Aug. 16, 19382,667,218 Collins Jan. 26, 1954 2,692,382 Lamkin et a] Oct. 26, 1954

1. THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING FOLDABLE DRAPERIES COMPRISING ASSEMBLINGA SUCCESSION OF THIN, FLEXIBLE STRIPS OF WOOD VENEER OF UNIFORMTHICKNESS, DISPOSED EDGE TO EDGE, FLATLY AND IN SLIGHTLY SPACEDRELATIONSHIP, BETWEEN TWO THIN TRANSPARENT SHEETS OF THERMO-PLASTICMATERIAL, SUBJECTING THE ASSEMBLED SHEETS AND STRIPS TO HEAT ANDPRESSURE BETWEEN THE PLATENS OF A PRESS AT A STARTING TEMPERATURE OFAPPROXIMATELY 300*F. AND THE PLATEN PRESSURE BEING APPLIED INITIALLY AT50 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH AND MAINTAINED UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE IN THEWOOD STRIPS HAS REACHED APPROXIMATELY 285*F., THEN BEING INCREASED TOAPPROXIMATELY 200 PER SQUARE INCH AND WHILE THE PLATEN HEAT ISDISCONTINUED, THUS CAUSING A GRADUAL LOWERING OF HEAT THEREIN, REMOVINGTHE PRESSED ARTICLE FROM BETWEEN THE PLATENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURETHEREIN HAS LOWERED TO APPROXIMATELY 100*F., AND CAUSING THE ARTICLE TOCOOL GRADUALLY UNDER ATMOSPHERIC CONDITION.